Pump primer



June 7, 1949. M, cox

PUMP PRIMER Filed Sept, 28, 1945 Elli-u mi l-HR. v

JAMES M. COX

Patented June 7, 1949 untrue I a hasia aim RIMER ifaiiies Mf' cox, FallfiixirfMass. -ipplication=Septeinber 28, e945; sen-arm 619,047

I 3i 3lafn'is.

The device ofthe present invention comprises -an improvement in'pump'primers and is adapted for use on reciprocating,,:c'entrifugal or rotary 'purn-ps either high-orlow lift. I Experience with water pumps, as usually employed injtown and city water works and like :publicutilities, hastaught that the safety factor of necessity transcends the utilitarian aspect.

Consequently water ejectors, because of their dependability, are presently extensively used in water works. Experiments have 'proven that a primer made, and installed ua-pump, in ac- "cbrdance with the teaching bf the present invention, may be used with any'type of vacuum creating equipment.

Objects of the invention are the provision of a transparent shatter-proof "non-frangible body which is mounted "directly onfthe pump and enough '.'which the prime er albsencethe'reof I is "discernible from any position around "the p; to equip the'prim er'witha therm'emj'eter "c'ol'iSfahtefi gag hint [with the water b ei ng pumped theiebfmaki'ng'the water tem' 'pe'rat'ur" e "available to anyone inprdii'r'nity to the "pum fto'include'in the primer assembly a float cc'introll'ed mercury switch to automatically shutefi the vacuum pump when the water pump is fully primed and free of air; to provide an auxiliary shut off in the primer which may consist of a ball check which automatically functions to prevent passage of water into the pump when the priming cycle has been consummated; to provide a relatively small and compact primer, detachably engageable with the pump, which at all times makes available, at a glance, the internal condition of the primer body including the temperature, fluidity, color, turbidity, etc. of the prime; and to provide an automatic sight flow primer which after actual use on centrifugal pumps has been found to increase the safety factor.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a primer constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the same, a part thereof being broken away to disclose details, the latter being shown connected to a schematically illustrated vacuum pump;

Figure 3 is a, side elevational view of the primer illustrating its application to a portion of a centrifugal pump; and

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary sectional view of the invention illustrating to advantage the (exitsris) float "operated swith mounted on ta-p "of "the ri e qyi 11 order to illustrate th'e" application f the, in- I vention-l have inJFig ure 3"shown a' p'art offa i-centrifugal pump "5 of standard consensual fwhich -is equipped -a primer "made 'in accordance withfthe teaching of'my 'i'rivntionftlie primer being generally, designatedt, Additionally to illustrate the application of this invenl't ipn l have in Figure Z portion of an auxiliary or vaciiu n 'pfim p "land 'a motor for operatingtl'iesafnet. II I The primer of this 'invention includes a tra'ns I panet terlwprc xifi'iorgefii liblebodyl prefer- "15 "ably of cyl indri cal configuration and equipped with a suitable pipe orconduit lawman-engages the primer with the=pump ,landwhich also places :the primer in coir'imiihica'ftion with the "pump. I bod'y S 'inay'be of a? plastic 'materiarsueh'as enmeseaeaete 'ormthyl-ifiethacrylate (Plexjbraed' by'discal te fl nae-h or the plates'is- I ygcma1 1eekj zupon eachof which f l3 isfln'fouri'ted. The plates ll arehefd "26f n'fcdntiguoiis retina-intern; body 9by rods "or es'iq the'rids' f the'lattenbingscrw thradedarid. e'iten e d 'jo'inplte'ly -through the plates I 1"rei-"me'recepuan' of "retaining nuts "t5. The jam nut [3 on the bottom plate engages the 30 pump connecting pipe H] while the top jam nut I3 engages one end of a pipe l6 which latter communicates with the vacuum pump I.

The upper of the plates I I also carries a switch arm I! which is movably mounted under influence of a float l8 to close an electrical circuit through a mercury switch l9, thereby applying current from source 3| to motor 8. The float I8 is pendently carried by one end of a shaft 20, the upper end of which latter extends through an opening in the top plate H and is engaged with the switch arm I1 through the medium of a pin 2! loosely mounted in an elongated slot 22 formed in the switch arm I! as advantageously illustrated in Figure 4. The shaft 20 operates through a gland nut mounted in the upper plate [I in a liquid tight manner. Consequently, raising and lowering of the float I8 is efiected without loss of liquid from the primer body 9.

The upper of the plates ll likewise carries a gage also of standard design and for use in an obvious manner.

The bottom plate II is provided with a central aperture 24 through which the prime passes into 65 the pump 5. The bottom plate is additionally provided with a drip opening 25 for flow of liquid which is controlled by a valve outlet 26.

The float I8 is raised in the body 9 under influence of the liquid or prime,

As an additional safety feature, to supplement the float I8, I employ a check valve which is automatically operated by the rise of the fluid in the primer and may consist of a float preferably made of plastic 2'! which is adapted to cover over the outlet opening to the vacuum pump with which the pipe l6 communicates, as shown in Figure 2.

With the device of the present invention placed directly on the pump, the prime is visible at all times, the temperature of the water is visible at all times by reason of the use of thermometer 30, and the condition of the water is also discernible through the wall of the primer body. It is, of course, well known in the art to employ an auxiliary vacuum pump and priming tank where the prime is visible on the tank through gage glasses. However, experience has *proven that with the valves closed on the main pump, water shows in the priming tank but the main pump will be devoid of Water. This is not possible with the present invention. Furthermore, by making the body of a non-shatterable and a non-frangible material, there is no possibility of glass splinters dropping into the close fitting internal parts of the pump.

If desired, the pump primer outlet pipe l0 may be equipped with a strainer 28 to intercept extraneous materials from passing into the pump 5.

Although I have herein described the preferred form of the invention, I am nevertheless aware that various changes may be made within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A pump primer comprising a pump, a primer mounted on and in operative communication with the pump, including a transparent shatter-proof body, with fluid inlet and outlet openings, a float engaged with the body and movable to cut ofi passage of fluid from the body when the fluid in the body reaches a predetermined level, and a free float independent of the first said float and operable to seat against the outlet opening to prevent passage of fluid from the body, in the event of failure of said first float.

2. In combination with a centrifugal pump and a vacuum pump, a primer mounted on the pump, and in communication with both the centrifugal and the vacuum pumps, the primer comprising a transparent shatter-proof, non-frangible body adapted for the reception of the prime liquid, and a pair of independent floats arranged within the body, means constraining one of said floats to move in a predetermined path in response to variations of the level of fluid within the body and operable to cut off passage of fluid from the body when said fluid reaches a predetermined level, and the other of said floats being freely movable and operable to cut off passage of fluid from the body in the event of failure of the first float.

3. In combination with a centrifugal pump and a vacuum pump, a primer mounted on the pump and in communication with both the centrifugal and the vacuum pumps, the primer comprising a transparent, shatter-proof, non-frangible body adapted for the reception of the prime liquid, a float in said body, a switch on the body in operative communication with the vacuum pump, means connecting the float to the switch to shut 011' the vacuum pump when the prime liquid reaches a predetermined level in said body, and a free float independent of the first said float and operable to prevent passage of fluid from the body, in the event of failure of said first float.

JAMES M. COX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 431,542 Bailey July 8, 1890 995,846 Desmarais June 20, 1911 1,289,893 Peterson Dec. 31, 1918 1,573,931 Goyne Feb. 23, 1926 1,784,205 Seeger Dec. 9, 1930 1,857,954 Gunderson May 10, 1932 2,033,980 Durdin Mar. 17, 1935 2,090,273 Wagner Aug. 1'7, 1937 2,322,910 Adney June 29, 1943 

